BMC has little to show for Rs 4,414 crore spent in 5 yrs

The civic body has spent Rs4,414 crore over the past five years on ward-level works such as repairs of roads, footpaths, drains and street lights, show records with the BMC. The internal note sent by a senior civic official to the municipal commissioner last week alleging financial irregularities, shoddy work and a nexus between officials and contractors in ward-level contracts raises questions about what has happened to all this money.

Why are roads and lanes in every locality in Mumbai in such a sorry shape if the BMC has spent Rs1,456 crore on them since 2007? The dismal state of roads during the monsoon lends credence to the allegations made in BMC chief accountant Ram Dhas’ note.

“Most work in local-level contracts remains on paper. What-ever little is done is exaggerated to claim payment,” said former chief secretary DM Sukhtankar.

Sources said the BMC is now thinking of appointing a separate contractor for local projects instead of assigning them in bulk to individual contractors.